Photographic copyboard



May 29, 1951 J. D. MAXWELL PHOTOGRAPHIC COPYBOARD 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 1, 1950 s s N N R Q NS 5 mm m; Q3 1 l 1 Q3 v9 IN VEN TOR. JOHN D, MAXWELL llll lhfl l l May 29, 1951 J. D. MAXWELL PHOTOGRAPHIC COPYBOARD 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FiledApril l, 1950 INVENTOR. JOHN D. MAXWELL ATTORNEYS.

Patented May 29, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PHOTOGRAPHIC COPYBOARD John D.. Maxwell, Glen Head, N. Y., assignor to Powers Photoengraving Company, GlenCove, N. Y., a corporation of New- York Application April 1, 1950, Serial No. 153,336

'Claims; l.

The present invention relates to a novel and improved. copyboard having automatic latch means for releasably holding acopyboard in loading position until after it has been opened and closed, such copyboardsbeing ordinarily used with photoengraving and other cameras.

Objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part hereinafter and in part will be obvious herefrom, or may be learned by practice with theinvention, the same being realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations pointed out in the appended claims.

The invention consists in the novel'parts, constructions, arrangements, combinations and improvements herein shownand described.

The accompanying drawings, referred to here'- in and constituting a part hereof, illustrate one embodiment of the invention, and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

Of the drawings:

Figure 1 is an end' elevation showing an illustrative and preferred form of'copyboard for use with photoengraving cameras;

Figure 2 is a side elev'ati'onofthe parts shown in Figure 1 and showing the copyboard in partially opened position;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary detailed view showin the automatic latch mechanism on the copyboard in latching position; and

Figure 4 is a similar view showing the latching mechanism after it has been released by the opening and closing of the-copyboard mechanism.

The present invention has for its object the provision of a photoengravers copyboard having automatic latching means for holding the copyboard in loading position and for automatically releasing the copyboard after the copyboard has been opened and reclose'd in the loading operation. A further object isthe provision of a pivotally mounted copyboard which can be moved from a vertical exposure position to a horizontal loading position, and is securely but releasably held in its horizontal position, being released by manipulation of the copyboard cover. A further object of the invention is the provision of means which securely holdthe pivotally mounted copyboard while it is being unloaded and reloaded, which means. permit the copyboard to be moved about a pivot from a horizontal to a vertical position only after the loading operation has been completed, thereby preventing accidental damage to the relatively heavy and fragile copyboard.

In certain respects the present invention is an application.

Referring now in detail to the present preferred and illustrative embodiment of the invention as shown in the accompanying drawings, a pair of supporting frames in are provided, one at either side of the structure and these are rigidly interconnected by meansof tie rods, not shown, or otherwise asdesired. Each of the frames is provided with a substantially horizontal portion l4- and with legs I6 and the copyboard is pivotally connected to each frame in at one corner of the frame and is adapted to be swung between a horizontal or' loading position and a verticalor exposure position. Such a provision may comprise apair'of trunnion pins fixed and extending laterally in opposite directions from a pair of' angle brackets 22 which are secured, one at either side onthe undersideof the copyboard, and each pin 20 is'journalled in a bearing formed in brackets 24' fastened to and extending upwardly from the horizontal portion M of the frame ID.

The copyboard itself comprisesa. copy frame 28 formed with a back board and an overlying sheet of resilient. material such as sponge rubber 29, and an overlying transparent cover frame 30 which is hinged to the copy frame so that it may be opened to give access to the upper surface of the copy frame for loading: and arranging the subject matter to be copied.

The cover frame 30 comprises a fiat transparent glass sheet 32 mounted in a surrounding metal frame 34. Hinge arms 36 are provided, one at each of the two rear corners (right. in Figure 1 of the frame 34 and project slightly beyond the rear side which connects these corners. Cooperating hinge arms 38 are secured to the corresponding cornersof the copy frame 28. and are pivotally connected to arms 36 by hinge pins 40. The handle 42 may be attached to the front side of frame 34 tofacilitate opening the copyboard during. loading and unloading. The weight distribution of the copyboard is such that it normally tends to remain in its horizontal position or in its vertical position after it has been manually moved thereto.

Provision is made for locking the cover frame 30 in its closed position merely by pressing it into that position. As embodied, alatch finger I0 is slidably mounted in a filler block H, which is welded or otherwise secured in the front end of copy frame side channel 5|, and projects outwardly through a suitable aperture in the channel. A cooperating latch bracket I2 is fixed on the corresponding front cover of the cover frame 30 and may be formed of angle stock so as to embrace and stiffen the metal frame 34 at that point. One flange of the angular latch bracket 12 is extended and provided with an aperture 13 into which latch finger I may project when the cover frame is closed.

Latch fingers 10 may be interconnected for simultaneous but opposite motion with respect to each other and provided with means common to both for manually withdrawing them from their respective latch brackets I2 and I5 to thereby unlock cover frame 30 from copy frame 28 to permit opening. As shown, an actuating disc 16, mounted inside of the front channel 48, is fixed on a shaft 11, which is journalled at a substantially central point in the web of the channel. One end of a link 18 is attached to the face of disc I6, near its periphery, by a pivot pin 80 and is connected at its other end to the inner end of the latch finger I0 by a pivot pin. A similar link 82 is attached at one end to disc 16 by a pivot pin at a point diametrically opposite to pivot 80 and pivotally secured at its other end to the other latch finger. Thus, rotation of disc I6 serves to move latch fingers I0 simultaneously but in opposite directions. Latch fingers I0 are normally maintained in the locking or outer position by a tension spring 84 which may be anchored at one end to filler block II and at the other end to a plate 85 secured at a mid point on link I9. Spring 84 acts on both latch fingers through the medium of the disc I6. The actuating disc I6 may be manually operated to unlock the closed cover frame 30 by a handle 86 fixed on the outwardly projecting end of disc shaft 11.

Shock absorbing means may be provided to prevent damage to the copyboard as it is swung and for this purpose a compression spring 95 secured on a stud on the upper surface of the horizontal frame portion I4 is adapted to engage a corner of the copyboard 28 just prior to the time it reaches its final horizontal position.

In accordance with the present invention automatic latching means are provided for latching the copyboard in its horizontal position and for holding it in that horizontal position until the handle 86 has been moved and the copyboard has been opened and closed as is customary in changing or arranging the copy. As embodied this latching means comprises a pivotally mounted hook member I00 which is pivoted by a pin I M on a bracket I02 rising from the frame member I0 and is adapted to engage with a pin I04 projecting laterally from the hinge member 38 on frame 28. The upper end I06 of the hook member I00 is bevelled so that it is displaced by pin I04 as the frame is moved to horizontal position and a leaf spring I08 also mounted on the frame member I0 urges hook I00 into engagement with the pin I04 as soon as the frame is in horizontal position. The hook I00 thus holds the frame securely against accidental movement and in a position so that the shock absorbing spring 95 is slightly compressed.

Means are provided for automatically retracting the hook I00 after the frame has been opened and as it is closed. For this purpose a link I I0 is pivotally mounted on the downward extension of hinge member 38 by means of a pivot pin II 2 and extends forwardly from the pivot pin II2 so as to lie between the hook I00 and. the

hinge member 88. Link H0 is provided with a notch I I4 which is adapted to engage with a pin 1 I6 on the hook member I00, the pin H8 being located between pivot WI and the hook engaging pin I04. The forward end I I8 of link I I0 is preferably guided by means of a strap I20 secured to the side of the frame 28 so as to restrict lateral movement of the link IIO while allowing it to have limited vertical movement about the pivot II2. Notch H4 is so located with respect to pin IIB that in the normal position of the hook I00 (as shown in Figure 1) the notch H4 is clear of the pin H6 and rides over the pin II6 so as to engage it only after the hinged frame member 30 has been lifted to a considerable distance about its hinge pivot 40. On further opening movement of the cover frame 30, the link I I0 drops by gravity so that notch H4 is in a position to engage pin IIB as the frame is moved to closed position, this closing movement of the frame retracting the hook IIO against the pressure of spring I08 and thereby releasing the hook I00 from the latching pin I04 and freeing the frame so that it may be swung from horizontal to its vertical position for photographing of the copy.

Figure 1 of the drawing shows the parts of the latching mechanism in their normal position after the frame has been moved from vertical to horizontal position, after which the latches I0 may be retracted to permit opening of the frame by lifting the cover member 30 about its pivot 40. As the cover is lifted, the link I I0 is moved to the left to the poistion shown in Figure 3. In this position copy may be suitably arranged in the frame and when the operator is satisfied as to its arrangement, the cover member 30 of the frame is lowered until the latch bolts I0 lock the cover 30 in closed position. During this closing movement of the cover, the link H0 is moved to the right and finally assumes the position shown in Figure 4 where the link I I0 has fully retracted the hook member I00 so that the pin I04 is free and the copyboard as a whole may be swung to vertical position. As the copyboard is swung to vertical position, the guide member I20 for the front knd II8 of the link IIO limits the movement of the link and insures that the notch I I4 rides oil from the pin II6 thereby releasing the hook I00 and allowing spring I08 to restore the hook to its normal position. During this movement hook I00 may strike the pin I04, but if such striking occurs it will be the bevelled face I06 of the hook which moves into contact with the pin I04, and no obstruction is offered to the movement of the copyboard to vertical position.

Thus a complete cycle of operations of the copyboard and latching mechanism comprises movement of the copyboard from vertical to horizontal position where the copyboard is securely latched against accidental tilting movement, release of the latching bolts I0 allowing the copyboard to be opened which opening of the copyboard readies the latch releasing mechanism for operating and is followed by closure and locking of the copyboard cover which releases the latch so that the copyboard may be returned to vertical position.

In case the operator so desires, he may release the automatic latching mechanism so as to restore the copyboard to vertical position without opening the copyboard, and for this purpose he need only manually move the hook I00 in the same manner as it would be moved by link IIO. Also, after the copyboard has been opened and recloscd, it may be securely locked in horizontal position, if desired, by manually lifting link III! while the copyboard is in horizontal position, the lifting of the link releasing pin 1 Hi from engagement with the notch H4 so that the parts are allowed to remain in the position shown in Figure 1. Thereafter, if desired, the copyboard may be moved to vertical position without opening it by manual release of the hook member I00 in the manner described.

The invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific mechanisms shown and described but departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the accompanying claims Without departing from the principles of the invention and without sacrificing its chief advantages.

What is claimed is:

1. A photoengravers copyboard including in combination a base, a pair of frame members hinged together along one edge and also mounted for pivotal movement on said base from a horizontal loading position to a vertical exposure position, and automatically acting latching means for releasably holding the copyboard in its horizontal position comprising cooperating hook members, one on a pivoted frame member and one on the base engaged by movement of the frame members to horizontal position, and hook releasing means mounted on said pivoted frame member and actuated by the closing movement of the hinged frame members.

2. A photoengravers copyboard including in combination a base, a pair of frame members hinged together along one edge and also mounted for pivotal movement on said base from a horizontal loading position to a vertical exposure position, and automatically acting latching means for releasably holding the copyboard in its horizontal position comprising cooperating hook members, one on a pivoted frame member and one on the base, a link moved by movement of a frame member on its hinge and engageable with one of the hook members on opening of the hinged frame member and releasing the engaged hook member on closing of the hinged frame member, whereby the frame must be opened and closed to release the frame for pivotal movement from the horizontal position.

3. A photoengravers copyboard including in combination a base, a pair of frame members hinged together along one edge and also mounted for pivotal movement on said base from a horizontal loading position to a vertical exposure position, and automatically acting latching means for releasably holding the copyboard in its horizontal position comprising a pin carried by the frame members, a pivoted hook engageable therewith and mounted on the base, a link moved by movement of a frame member on its hinge, said link being constructed and positioned to engage the hook as the hinged frame member is moved to open position, and retracting the hook to released position as the frame member is closed, whereby the frame members are released for movement from the horizontal position by opening and then closing the hinged frame member.

4. A photoengravers copyboard including in combination a base, a pair of frame members hinged together along one edge and also mounted for pivotal movement on said base from a horizontal loading position to a vertical exposure position, and automatically acting latching means for releasably holding the copyboard in its horizontal position comprising a pin carried by the frame members, a pivoted hook engageable therewith and mounted on the base, a link moved by movement of a frame member on its hinge, said link being constructed and positioned to engage the hook as the hinged frame member is moved to open position, and retracting the hook to released position as the frame member is closed, whereby the frame members are released for movement from the horizontal position by opening and then closing the hinged frame member and means for releasing the link from the hook member as the frame member is moved to vertical position.

5. A photoengravers copyboard including in combination a base, a pair of frame members hinged together along one edge and also mounted for pivotal movement on said base from a horizontal loading position to a vertical exposure position, and automatically acting latching means for releasably holding the copyboard in its horizontal position comprising a pin carried by one of the frame members, a pivoted hook engageable therewith, mounted on the base and normally urged to pin-engaging position, a link slidable on and engageable with the hook to retract the hook to pin-releasing position, means connecting the link with one of the frame members for moving the link into engagement with the hook as the frame member is moved about its hinge away from the other frame, and means for releasing the link from the hook as the frame members are moved to vertical position, whereby the frames are released for movement away from the horizontal position by opening and then closing the hinged frame member, and movement of the frame members from the horizontal position restores the hook for subsequent engagement with the pin.

J OHN D. MAXWELL.

No references cited. 

